Beacon

Did you know that there are significant numbers of people in Britain who have neither the right to earn a living, nor any entitlement to welfare benefits - nor even to a roof over their heads? They are truly destitute: ‘failed’ asylum seekers. The great majority have left their own countries, having experienced severe persecution as a result of their political opinions or faith, suffered further trauma and financial abuse on the hazardous journey that brought them to Britain, and then fallen through gaping holes in a legal process that appears to assume guilt rather than innocence from the outset.

A whole host of amazing people…..

BEACON’s Hosting Project recruits and trains volunteer hosts to provide a home and support to destitute refused asylum seekers. Hosting provides guests with a secure, supportive environment in which they have the opportunity to research and gather the fresh evidence they need in order to submit a fresh asylum claim. 

The good news.  At least 14 of the 35 people hosted since October 2008 have now been granted leave to remain (we have lost contact with one or two). These are people who fled extreme trauma in their homelands but who, without a safe place to stay whilst they gathered fresh evidence to resubmit their asylum claims, may well have been forced to return to the very situations they fled. 

The not-so-good news.Whilst our wonderful small group of hosts come back again and again to offer a home and friendship to new people, the project turns away on average three destitute asylum seekers every week. The demand massively outstrips supply. Both guests and hosts speak of the mutuality of hosting and the friendships that develop.  We urgently need more people willing to open up their homes – and their hearts – and be a part of a life-changing experience. We particularly need households able to help men. Initial training and ongoing support is provided.

For details call or email Will Sutcliffe: 07505 053149; host.beacon@yahoo.com  

“I look back at the time I spent being hosted by BEACON and am inspired to be a host one day when I have a place of my own. This was a life changing experience for me because I was offered help when I really needed it the most by a most selfless and loving individual. The work that BEACON does has bridged the bureaucratic gap between destitution and receiving statutory support. I support the work that BEACON does because many destitute asylum seekers really have no one else to turn to.” 

S.S from Zimbabwe. Jan. 2011, now granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK